Switch actuator

Abstract

The present invention provides a retrofit actuator that can be fitted interchangeably to either a toggle switch or a rocker switch and which mimics both the up and down action required to operate a toggle switch and the pushing force required to operate a rocker switch, the retrofit actuator capable of being operated either directly by pressing an on/off button on the switch actuator itself or remotely by sending a signal from a remote control or other sender unit such as a passive infra red detector or a programmable central sender unit that can control one or more switch actuators from a remote location.

1 . A removable electrical switch control device for interchangeable use between both rocker and toggle type switches, the electrical switch control device having a reciprocating actuator with a first and second end which travels in a curved path so that a rocker switch is pressed at the ends of the rocker rather than near the centre where a higher force is required, the device comprising;
 a housing adapted to be removably mountable to at least one of an existing rocker switch plate and an existing toggle switch plate without modification to the existing rocker switch plate and the existing toggle switch plate;   an actuator that reciprocates back and forth within the housing whilst following a curved path so that the two ends of the actuator move up and down relative to the switch plate as they reciprocate enabling the actuator to alternately press each end of the rocker switch near the end of the rocker and with the first and second ends of the actuator being alternately closer and further away from the switch plate as the actuator reciprocates;   a cam follower mounted on the actuator;   a recess in the center of the actuator to receive a toggle lever of a conventional toggle switch and to flip it from one position to another as the actuator reciprocates;   a motor mechanically connected to the actuator;   a battery pack electrically connected to the motor and to supply power to the motor; and   a control element electrically connected between the motor and the battery pack.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 1  wherein the actuator includes at least one guide plate with at least one guide channel to guide the actuator in a curved manner as it reciprocates. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 1  in which at least two guide channels are provided in each guide plate to guide the actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 1  in which at least two guide channels are provided in each guide plate to guide the actuator, the guide channels being arranged so that the actuator tilts relative to the switch plate as it reciprocates. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 1  in which the motor is mechanically connected to the actuator via a gearbox that incorporates a mangle gear to convert rotary motion into reciprocating motion. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 1  in which the control element incorporates a timer, a timer controlled switch connected to the control element and a momentary switch connected to the control element 
     
     
         7 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 6  in which a lever is housed within the housing, the lever includes:
 a button that allows the lever to be pressed; 
 a pivot point about which the lever pivots within the housing; 
 a cam surface; and 
 a lever face positioned above the momentary switch. 
 
     
     
         8 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 7  in which the cam follower is adjacent to the cam surface of the lever so that as the actuator reciprocates, the cam follower moves along the cam surface. 
     
     
         9 . The lever of  claim 7  in which the cam surface of the lever has two end zones and a middle zone, the middle zone being positioned so that when the cam follower presses against the middle zone, the lever pivots and the lever face presses the momentary switch. 
     
     
         10 . The lever of  claim 9  in which the cam surface outer two end zones are positioned so that when the cam follower is adjacent to them, the lever is free to pivot away from the momentary switch. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 1  in which the control element incorporates a timer, a timer controlled switch connected to the control element and a momentary switch connected to the control element. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 1  in which a receiver is connected to the control element to allow remote operation of the control element to enable remote actuation of the removable electrical switch control device. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 1  in which a programmable timer is connected to the control element and configured to allow pre-programmed operation of the control element to enable pre-programmed actuation of the removable electrical switch control device. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 7  configured so that a pressing of the button causes the lever to pivot and the lever face to press the momentary switch to signals to the control element to electrically close the timer controlled switching device for a period of time controlled by the timer so that the motor moves the actuator a short distance away from one of its end of travel positions. This causes the cam follower to move from one of its end zones to the middle zone of the lever and keeps the momentary switch depressed by the lever face until the actuator has moved to its opposite end of travel position and the cam follower is in the opposite end zone on the cam surface allowing the lever to pivot back to its starting position due to the momentary switch returning to its open position and thus enable a short press of the button to cause the actuator to move from one end of travel position to the other to switch at lease one of a rocker and toggle switch. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 12  configured such that reception by the receiver of a suitable signal from a remote control device signals to the control element to electrically close the timer controlled switching device for a period of time controlled by the timer so that the motor moves the actuator a short distance away from one of its end of travel positions to cause the cam follower to move from one of its end zones to the middle zone of the lever and keeps the momentary switch depressed by the lever face until the actuator has moved to its opposite end of travel position and the cam follower is in the opposite end zone on the cam surface allowing the lever to pivot back to its starting position due to the momentary switch returning to its open position to thus switch one of a rocker and toggle switch. 
     
     
         16 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 13  configured so that a signal from a programmable timer signals to the control element to electrically close the timer controlled switching device for a period of time controlled by the timer so that the motor moves the actuator a short distance away from one of its end of travel positions to cause the cam follower to move from one of its end zones to the middle zone of the lever and keeps the momentary switch depressed by the lever face until the actuator has moved to its opposite end of travel position and the cam follower is in the opposite end zone on the cam surface allowing the lever to pivot back to its starting position due to the momentary switch returning to its open position as the actuator moves from one end of travel position to the other to effect the switching of at least one of a rocker and toggle switch. 
     
     
         17 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 1  and further comprising a central remote control connected to the electrical switch control device to enable control of the electrical switch control device according to at least one of a timed program within the central remote control and a sensor in s communication with the central remote control. 
     
     
         18 . The electrical switch control device of  claim 1  configured with a recess for insertion of a insert so that the insert can enable effective pressing of a rocker of a short form rocker switch.